Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Joergen pointed us this summer in his contribution Ukulele Specialon the daily Keep Swinging web log to the music of Bill Tapia. He posted a film fragment that made me anxious to learn more about this ukulele player. Last weekend I played myself his two last CDs, titled Tropical Swing and Duke of Uke. What a surprise - I've never heard the uke played so relaxed and swinging like Bill does.

Bill Tapia, nicknamed Tappy, was born on New Years day 1908, which means that he hopes to celebrate his 100th birthday at the end of the year. He learned himself the ukulele when he was a child and he still remembers that the played Stars and Stripes Forever for the US troups stationed in Hawaii in 1918 ( ! ). When he was 12 years old he left school and played at local vaudeville shows. To be honest, this story looks a bit familiar with the start of Oscar Aleman's career. When he was a kid he danced at the vaudeville show of his parents and learned himself playing the cavaquinho too. Isnt it nice to learn that both Oscar Aleman and Bill Tapia exploit the trick playing their instrument behind the head.

In 1927 Bill Tapia started a hotel in Hawaii, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, a place where all great jazz and Hawaiian musicians performed during the 1920s up to the early 1940s. During his long career as a musician he played the guitar in a lot of jazz and swing sessions; the ukulele was only played at informal performances. When his wife Barbie and his daughter Cleo passed away some years ago, he took up the ukulele again. At the age of 94 he made his debut (!) on the uke with the album Tropical Swing and one year later the great album Duke of Uke was recorded.

You only have to listen to the first track of Duke of Uke, All The Things You Are, to become fascinated by this man. The way he plays the ukulele is so relaxed and sophisticated and sounds like a modern jazz guitar solo, backed by a rhythm section that features Byron Yasui on piano and Benny Chong on guitar. Other great tunes are Black Orpheus, Happy Hulaand some more Hawaiian tunes like Hapa Haole Hula Girl and Hawaiian Medleyon the Tropical Swing CD with Buck Gilles on steel guitar. Both CDs contain some private recordings from the 1930s - some great historical treasures.

Bill Tapia hopes to celebrate his 100th birthday with a show, scedulded on the 18th of November at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro California. I wished I could be there !!

I love to share with you a fragment, Joergen used it in his contribution too, with Bill Tapia and Lyle Ritz live recorded at the 13th of June, 2004. This tune is also available as an audio track on the Duke of Uke CD. Hope you're as surprised as I was !!

3 Comments:

Thanks, Hans, for this contribution on Bill Tapia, the Duke of Uke. His ability to play the ukelele behind his back is a showcase also used by Oscar Alemán as mentioned. Anyway, the outcome of these efforts (- in both instances) does not reveal any 'mistakes' whatsoever - the music is always straight ahead - and swinging. I'd love to join the celebration of Bill's 100th anniversary, too. Hope this event may be documented on film/TV later.Jo

My name is Palika, and my wife and I live with my dear friend Bill Tapia. He is just thrilled to see that he is popular in Europe, as well as the United States, and the Islands of Hawaii. He is sitting here right now with me, and asked me to explore the possibility of performing in your country soon. He will be 100 years old January 1, 2008. He is a master entertainer, and loves to do it! Let me know if you could work out a few concerts.Mahalo and a hui hou!Palika

Great to learn that you read my Keep swinging web log for today and that Bill was happy to learn that he has friends in Europe. If you want to contact me directly mail me at my Keep swinging live account, that you find in my blog.keepswinging at live point nl